Bedstead-fastening



` UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

R. H. sT. JOHN, `OE coLUMBUs, OHIO.

BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 11,305, dated July 11, 1854.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, R. I-I. ST. JOHN, of Columbus, in the county ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented and made certain new anduseful Improvements in Bedstead- Fastenings `andI do hereby declare,that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the methodof construction and mode of operating the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1, is a perspective view of the bedstead complete, showingthe keys a, a., a; b, Z9, the heads of the metallic clevis-clamp, c, c,c, which is represented as being let into the posts, and also into theupper and lower surfaces of the rail. Fig. 2, shows the post with theclevis-clamp a, running through it, and showing the key Z), inserted inone of the eyes 0, representing the manner of keying the post onto therail.

To enable others to be skilled in the construction, use and applicationof my improved bedstead fastening, I herewith proceed to describe thesame, the nature and principles of which consist in being able to applymy fastening to any ordinary bedstead already in use, as well as beingapplicable to those for which it is intended to be attached.

Deeming it unnecessary to enter into any description in detail of theconstruction in general of bedsteads, I will conne myself simply to adescription of the construction of my clevis-clamp fastening and themode or manner of applying the same to posts and rails to form acomplete, steady, substantial bedstead fastening.

. The clevis like pieces c, 0, o, Fig. 1, are formed in strips fromwrought iron, or metallic plates; say from an eighth of an inch (orupward) thick, to 2 or moreinches wide, according to width of rail andpost; and in length according to required utility; and are bent at rightangles flatwise of the metal. The distance between the, angles being in'accordance with the thickness `of the post, less the thickness 0fthestrips of metal,

the eyes or slots `being formed near the ends of the clevis clamp, ofrequired size to suit the wedge like keys a, a, a, Fig. 1. The clevisand keys being formed with flat planes, and right angled edges, are nextfitted into the posts and rails; which fitting, is done by mortising twomortises, through the rail fronts d, d, Fig. 1, of the posts, themortises conforming to the shape and size of the clevis-clamp, exactlyobserving, that the mortise must be sunk into the post also, thethickness of the metal so as that the clevis-clamp is let into the post,in order not to projecty above the plane of the post. This having beendone, the rail or longitudinal beam is fitted to the clevis-clamp byletting it into the wood its thickness, and mortising through the rail,the required size of the eyes c, c, c, and keys a, a, a, Fig. 1, so thatthe keys can be driven through the top of the clevis and rail verticallyand thereby drawing the posts and rails together flush as required,forming a substantial, simple, cheap, and effectual bedstead fastening.The detaching is done by knocking or` forcing upward against the keys.

Having` given a clear and succinct description of the Inode ofconstruction, ap-- plication, and operation of `my improved bedsteadfastening, what I claim as new and original with myself and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

Disclaiming the invention of the clevis,

staple, and key or wedge as original devices,

I claim- The clevis clamp, a, together with the double mortised post, incombination with the key or wedge Z), through all of which is produced acompensating bedstead fastening, specifically as described, and asdelineated by diagrams 1 and 2.

R. H. sT. JOHN.

Vitnesses CALVIN MARQUIS, GEO. FOSTER.

